Bhubaneswar, Dec 12 (IANS): Armed Maoists Thursday abducted six people from two villages in Odisha's Malkangiri district, police said.

About 30-40 rebels raided Chintalwada village and dragged a ward member from his home.

The rebels also raided the nearby Ramaguda village and called out five residents. They took away all the six people with them.

The regions where the incidents took place are about 700 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh told IANS.

He said Maoists have lost their grip on the people due to the setting up of a Border Security Force (BSF) camp in the area. Besides, massive combing operations in the region have raised the confidence of the residents.

The rebels are frustrated because people are not cooperating. Maoists abducted the villagers out of frustration, he said.

A search operation has been launched to locate the villagers, he said.

Maoists are active in more than half of Odisha's 30 districts. Malkangiri is considered one of their strongholds.